G20 emerging as powerful global voice, says Manmohan

By Arvind Padmanabhan London, April 2 (IANS) Satisfied with the outcome of the G20 summit here and content that the final declaration reflected the issues raised by India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said the forum can become a major global voice.

“If the group of 20 can find credible answers to major global issues, it will certainly carve out a place for itself,” the prime minister said, adding it came with the rich diversity of not only having the US and Russia as members but also emerging economies like India and China.

“We have shown there is hope,” the Oxford-educated economist said.

“If G20 succeeds in dealing with the global problems in a cooperative manner, it would have that respect,” the prime minister added, when asked if this summit signalled the end of domination by the Group of Eight industrialised countries.

“It is a committee of 20 - a unique combination,” said the prime minister. “We will meet again this year and the date and time will be fixed by the chairman,” he said, referring to his host and British counterpart Gordon Brown.

The prime minister also went on to list several issues raised by India that were addressed in the communique issued at the end of the G20 summit.

These included greater surveillance of financial system, need to replenish capital flows to developing countries, expand the resources of multilateral lending institutions and roll back protectionist measures on both goods and services.